Rail-joint



Patented Aug. 16, I898. W. M. SMITH.

RAIL JOINT. (Applicatin filed Nov. 9, 1897.)

(No Model.)

"r NORRIS PETERS cc, PHOTO-L\YHO,WASHINGTON n c Nrrnn FFICEG \VILLIAM M. SMITH, OF NEW CUMBERLAND, VEST VIRGINIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 609,304, dated August 1898.

Application filed November 9, 189 7. Serial No. 657,923. (No model.)

cock and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rail-joints, and might also be referred to as a compound rail, the object of the invention being to'secure as far as practicable a continuous tread upon which the wheels can travel in order to reduce wholly or partially the jars produced by the passage of the wheels over 'the transverse joints of the heads or treads of the rail.

The leading features of my invention consist in placing a supplemental rail on the outer face of the ordinary rail in a manner that the transverse joints of the supplemental rail will be at a point about midway of each of the ordinary rails, sothat there will be no continuous transverse joints for more than two parts, and the invention further consists in the novel manner for securing the supplemental rail in position without the aid of the ordinary fish-plates and bolts usually employed.

The invention further consists in the novel construction which will permit the reversing of the ordinary rail when one side of its tread has become worn so as to bring the unworn side into position for the wheels, and also to provide means for the expansion and contraction of the members, so that the same will not cause the rail to buckle or strain.

With the above and other objects in View the invention finally consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specifically described, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews, in which Figure l is a side view of a portion of the rails, showing my improvement in position.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line X X of Figfl. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line Y Y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of l the tension-spring employed for holding the securing-plates in position. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the clamping-wedges. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the locking key or wedge. Fig. 8 is a similar view of the crossbar binding the plates on each side of the rail firmly in position.

' Referring now to the drawings by referenceletters, a represents the ordinary rail, which has placed at the outer side thereof a supplemental rail 1), which is rolled to conform to the shape of the main rail a and rests firmly against the same. This rail 1) is secured in its position by means of clamping-wedges e, havinga downwardly-projecting end c,wl1ich extends below the base of the main rail a and the supplemental rail 1) when both rails are in their position on the cross-ties, said projection being preferably with a slot 0 to receive the fastening-bar d. This fastening-bar d is providedon its one end with a head 01, which engages against the clamping-wedges 6, used for the inner face of the rail, said clamping'wedges 6 being also provided with a downwardly-projecting end having a slot to receive the securing-bar, and this bar being provided near its end which projects through the clamping-wedges e with an 0blong slot at? to receive the fastening key or wedged the form of which is fullyillustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, which shows the same provided with a cut-away portion, thus forming lugs 01 which prevent the wedge from dropping out of its seat in the slot 1 In order to bind the supplemental rails firmly against the face of the main rail and also hold the clamping-wedges e firmly in their position, I provide a stiff tension-spring f, which may be of as many ply as desired, with the bow of the same abutting against the outer face of thesupplemental rail b, and the outer or longer ply thereof is provided with projections f to engage the sides of the clamping wedges, and thus retaining the spring in its position, said wedges being preferably provided with cutaway portions 0 into which the main ply of the spring fi ts.

The manner of placing the parts in position: will, it is thought, be fully understood fron1- the foregoing description and by reference to the accompanying drawings, and it will be observed that by this arrangement the joints of the main rail are obviated by placing the joints of the supplemental rail at a point dis rant from the joints of the main rail, so that no jar will be occasioned by the wheels passing over the joints of the main rails.

The spikes employed for fastening the rails to the cross-ties will of course engage the base-flange of the main rail on the inner side and the flange of the supplemental rail at the outsides of the track.

I desire also to call attention to thefact that by this construction no bolt-holes are required in the main rail, thus serving to materially strengthen the main rail at the joints of the same.

In order to prevent what' is commonly termed as running of the rails, and also to provide for the expansion and contraction of the rails when the joints are so locked as to prevent the running, I provide slots g, extending through both the main and supplemental rails, so placed that when both rails are in position the slots will be exactly opposite each other. direction of the length of the rails, and in these slots is inserted a plain sheet-key g, which is held therein by the clamping-wedges and serves to securely lock the joint and prevent the running of the rails.

In order to allow for the expansion and contraction ofthe rails,these keys are preferably, made of less diameter than the length of the slots, thus allowing for the contraction of the These slots are oblong in the I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,ris

1. The combination with the main rail of a supplemental rail conforming to the shape of the main rail, clamping-wedges engaging the inside of the rail and projecting below the main rail and being provided with a slot to receive a fastening-bar, a fastening-key to secure the fastening-bar in position, and means engaging the supplemental rail, and clamping-wedges, whereby said rail is held firmly against the main rail, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination with the main rail of a supplemental rail engagingthe face of the same and conforming to the shape thereof, clamping-wedges engaging the inner face of the main rail and the outer face of the supplemental rail, said wedges having an end extending below the lower face of the main and supplemental rails, a fastening-bar passing through slots in said ends, a fastening-key lockin g said bar in position, a spring secured between the upper end of the wedges and the supplemental rail, whereby the same is held in position.

3. Ina rail-joint, the combination of a main rail, a supplemental rail engaging the outer face of the same and conforming to the shape thereof, the outer face of said supplemental rail being parallel with the outer face of the main rail and being substantially the same length of the main rail, the joints of the main and supplemental rails being so arranged as not to register with each other, clampingwedge engaging the inner face of the main rail and the outer face-of the supplemental rail, said wedge'havingan end extending below the lower face of the main and supplemental rails, a fastening-bar engaging slots formed in said ends, a fastening-key locking the bar in position and a spring engaging the supplemental rail and the upper ends of the wedges to hold the supplemental rail in engagement with the main rail, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM M. SMITII.

Witnesses:

JOHN NoLAND, GEO. B. PARKER. 

